Native Place is the name of our holiday home in the hills of western India. It is also home to Nirvana Adventures, a paragliding school, run by my husband. My gardening adventure began in 2003 when we finished building Native Place and moved in. It is an all consuming hobby that I juggle along with paragliding on weekends. During the week I’m back in the city and gardening online

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Friday, June 5, 2015

It happens in the transition of seasons, when summer is on its last legs
and the SW monsoon winds begin to penetrate inland signaling the beginning of the
monsoons season. Every night starting at
the end of May the Native place garden comes alive, lit up by magical fairy
lights. It begins with a single spotting, a few days later a few more and soon
the numbers increase until they reach an amazing intensity by the time the
monsoon arrives.

Even in the light of the waxing moon these fairy like creatures are
mesmerizing to look at. Fireflies can be
seen all over the garden lighting up shrubs, hedges and tree canopies but they
do seem to have preferences for certain flora.

Look out from the Native Place terrace into the canopy of the little Ain tree
to see smatterings of ephemeral lights gliding about, floating up and sinking
down like graceful glowing embers from a bonfire. The whole tree seems alive with the many
random, slow, fluid movements and lighting rhythms. Watching these guys for a while
brings on a sense of awe and quiets the mind.

Another Ain tree a little further away has another vibe going on
altogether. Here we see lots more fireflies going off in a pulsating synchronized fashion sweeping up from the bottom or the top or even
initiating spontaneously from the middle of the tree canopy. Sitting on the
steps looking up at this insignificant by day tree one can’t help but feel
lucky to be here right now witnessing the energy that dwells in it.

My fancies are fireflies, specks of living light twinkling in the dark.

Tagore

When was the last time you saw fireflies?For many of us who have been born and raised
in the city, fireflies may have well been the subject of fairytales and myths.
But you too can have this special experience by simply booking a night’s stay
at the Native Place guesthouse at Kamshet (3 hours from Mumbai and one hour from Pune

Come experience the magic of the
fireflies in the Native Place garden. These seemingly magical insects will be
on show in full intensity for the next couple of weeks.

This phenomena begins at the end
of May and continues to increase in intensity until the monsoon begins in full
swing – a short period of a few illuminating, magical weeks . Come make the most of this opportunity.

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About Me

I have had an affinity for trees for as long as I can remember. In 2003 Native Place our guesthouse in the hills of western India was completed and that’s when i began hands on gardening.
My brand of gardening is more visualizing mood and creating joyful spaces.
Don’t get me wrong I love getting my hands dirty. I also talk to my plants – no nonsense straight talk is what I call it and I think they like it.
Honestly I don’t see myself as having green fingers and definitely have a long way to go in strict gardening terms but if it involves walking up or down a garden path I am up for it.